Food cooking device



' March 3, 1942. R. SARDESQN FQD GGOKNG DEVIE Filed 0st, 1, 195g www ROb @rt Sar@ 5mm March 3, 1942.

R. sARDEsoN 2,274,810

FOOD COOKING DEVICE Filed OCb. l, 1938 3 Shets-Sheet 3 HHHH Patented Mar. 3,

FOOD COOKING DEVICE Robert Sardeson, Minneapolis, Minn., assigner to Harold C. Genter, Miami Beach, Fla.

Application October 1, 1938, Serial No. 232,707

11 Claims.

My invention relates to food cooking devices and to operating mechanisms and timing mechanisms therefor and has for an object to provide a device which will be simple in construction and positive in action. V

Another object of the invention resides in providing a device which utilizes a thermally responsive member for procuring timing of the y cooking operation.

A ftnther object of the invention resides in providing a device in which timing is procured during the iirst operation by heating of the thermally responsive member and during subsequent' operations by successive cooling and heating of the thermally responsive member.

A still further object of the invention resides in constructing the food cooking device with food shifting means and in controlling the energization of the heating means for the cooking devicer and the heater for the thermally responsive member through said food shifting means.

A feature of the invention resides in providing a food cooking device having food shifting means adapted to occupy two or more positions when the food is in proximity to the heating means and in controlling the timing of the cooking device through the positions of said food shifting means.

Another object of the invention resides in controlling the energization of the fheater and heating means through the positions of said food shifting means.

Another object of the invention resides in providing an operating mechanism including a timing mechanism and a'movable member adapted to occupy two or more positions and in controlling the timing of the timing mechanism through the positions occupied by said movable member.

Othei` objects of the invention reside in the novel combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter illustrated and/or described.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a bread toaster with a portion thereof cut away and illustrating an embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is an elevational on line 2-2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3v is an inverted view of a portion invention disclosed in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevational sectional sectional view taken of the view taken on line 4-4 of Fig.'1.

' Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. t` showing the arts in altered position. Fig. 6 is an elevational sectional detail view on line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a wiring diagram of the invention.

My invention comprises a frame A, best shown in Fig. 1. This frame carries, at one portion of the same, a toaster B and at another portion of the' same a timing device C for timing the operation of the toaster. The toaster B includes a carriage D having suitable bread racks on which the bread is carried and which are adapted to b lowered intothe toasting ovens and to positions adjacent -the heating elements of the toaster and to be raised from the positions adjacent said elements to elevated positions remote therefrom when the toasting operation is completed. These various parts will now be described in detail.

The frame A comprises a base II which may be constructed from sheet metal as a stamping p and which has a, body portion I2 provided with a flange I3 depending therefrom. At the corners of the flange I3 the same projects downwardly to form feet I4 by means of which the base is supported. Frame A further includes two vertically spaced plates I5 and I6 which are rigidly attached to one another by means of shouldered rods I8. 'I'hese rodsare formed with threaded reduced ends I9 which pass through the said plates and which have screwed upon the endsthereof nuts' 22. By means of this construction the respective plates are held in proper spaced relation and are attached to one another. The assembly of plates thus formed is secured to base II by means of clip angles 23 which are secured to the body l2 through bolts 24.

The toaster B is constructed in the following manner: Extending across the two plates I5 and 'I6 area number of supporting bars 26 which have flanges 21 overlying \said plates and secured thereto by means of screws 28. These bars are spaced apart to form the toasting ovens which, inthe particular toaster illustrated, are two in number and designated by the reference numerals 3| and 32. 'I'he bars 26 are drilled at suitable intervals, as designated at 33, to receive guard wires 34 which extend downwardly from -the facing marginal edges of the bars and which 31o. The part 31a of case 31 is constructed with two openings 38 and 39 in the upper portion of the same, by means of which the bread may be inserted in the two ovens 3| and 32. The case 31 is received within a recess |138 in the base and is attached thereto by means of screws |39 which extend through said case and are threaded in the base The toaster B includes the bread' `'carriage-D, previously referred to, which is best shown in Figs. 1 and 2. This carriage consists of a plate 4| which has two vertically arranged legs 42 and pivots the thermally responsive member for swinging movement about the said bolt as an axis. A nut 11, screwed upon the end of the bolt 16, holds the thermally responsive member in place. The arm `14 is held in adjusted position by means of an adjusting screw 18. This screw is threaded in a bracket 19 secured to the underside of the body l2 of base On the j other-side of the arm 14 is'` another bracket 8| 43. The upper and lower ends of these legs have bent outwardly therefrom anges 44 which have secured to them guide bushings 45. The bushings 45 are slidably mounted on two vertical posts 46 and 41 which' are attached to the body portion l2 of base and to two ears 48 bent outwardly from the flanges 21 of the supporting bars 26'. The posts 46 and 41 are constructed with reduced ends 5|. which are riveted to the base and withlthreaded shouldered ends52 which pass through the ears 48 and have nuts 53 screwed upon the same for clamping'said posts in position.

Attached to the plate 4| is an arm 64 which has formed on it a ange secured to the said plate by means of screwsl 66. This arm projects with convolutions 86 which encircle said strip outwardly through the case 31. and has attached to' it a ringer piece 61 by means of which the said arm may be depressed. When the arm 64 is depressed, the carriage D is moved downwardly. The carriage D is returned to its uppermost position by means of a tension coil spring 68 which is hooked at one end to a lug 69 formed on the lowermost flange 44 of leg 42 and at its other end to a lug 1| issuing from the ear 48 of the bar 26 of toast oven 32.

The carriage D further includes two bread racks 54 and 55 which are disposed within ovens 3| and 32 and uponlwhich the bread to be toasted rests. Inasmuch as both of these bread racks are identical in construction, only the bread rack 54 will be described in detail. 'I'his bread rack consists of a longitudinally extending horizontally -disposed grid 56 which is formed of sheet bread rack 54 has a iiange 6| bent downwardly therefrom which extends through a slot 62 in the end plate I6. This flange is secured to another flange 63 bent from the plate 4|. The rack 65 l ls constructed ln the same manner and attached I to the plate 4| ln identically the same manner'.-

It will thus be seen as the carriage D is raised and lowered, racks 54 and 55 are raised and lowered with it, the supporting members 56 thereof sliding along the guard wires 34 and moving thebread from positions adjacent the heating elements 35 to positions above the same and vice versa. a

The timing mechanism C includes a thermally responsive member 12, best shown in Figs. 2 and 3. This thermally responsive member consists of a strip of bi-metal 13 which is riveted to an arm 14. Arm 14 has two ears 15 extending outwardly therefrom. A bolt 16 secured to the body |2 of base passes through these ears and which has attached toit a similar screw 92. A compression coil spring 83 acts between the bracket 8| and the arm 14 and urges the said arm into 'engagement with screw 18. Screw 18A has a knob 84 which projects outwardly beyond Vthe case and by means of which the screw 18 maybe adjusted. Screw 82 limits the movement of arm 14 and at the same time forms a guide` n for holding the spring 83 in place.

Encircling the bi-metal strip 13, intermediate the ends thereof, is a heater 85 constructed of a coil of high resistance wire which is formed and are of sufficient dimensions to permit-of the desired flexure of the strip. The ends 80 of the said heater are attached under binding posts which are mounted on the body I2 of base and insulated therefrom. The heater is supvported through the binding posts 90, the wire from which the same is constructed being sufficiently heavy to support itself when heated.-

The thermally responsive member 12 of timing mechanism C operates with a construction best shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Issuing outwardly from the body |2 of base is a standard 81 which is constructed from sheet metal and which is formed with a vange 88 projecting therefrom. Flange 88 is secured to the base by meansof machine screws 89. The-standard 81 has secured to it a stud 9| which is formed with a shouldered threaded end |92 passing through said standard. A nut |93 screwed upon this end of the stud secures the same in place upon the standard. Pivotally attached to the stud 9| are two levers 92 and 93. The lever 92 is constructed with two off-set arms 94 and 95 and the lever 93 is similarly constructed with two off-set arms 96 and 91. The two arms 94 and 96 are spaced from one another and likewise the two arms 95 and 91 are spaced from one another. The two arms 95 and 91 straddle the free end 98 of the strip of bi-metal 13 and the arm 95 has a screw |0| screwed into the same.l A bracket |00 attached to arm 91 has a screw |02 screwed into it. These screws are adapted to engage the strip of bi-metal 13 upon opposite sides thereof. As the bi-metal deflects in opposite directions the same engages the said screws and swings lever 92y and93. 'Ihe arm 94 has formed on the end of it a hook |03 which serves as a latch. Similarly, lever 96 has formed on the end of thesame a hook |04 which also serves as a latch. Hook |03 is situated at an elevation above the hook |04. For engagement with the latches |03 and |04 a latch lug |06 is employed which is constructed of Sheet metal and is formed withl a iiange |01 secured to the flange 63 of plate 4| by means of screws |20-, This latch lug is adapted to travel past the latches |03 and |04 and when the said latches are in proper position to engage the same. A pin |31. secured to the standard 81 limits movement of the lever 92, while a screw |08 threaded in a projection |09 on standard 81 and engaging a lug on lever 93 limits the" movement of this lever. A tension coil spring ||2 is hooked about both of the alms 96 and 91 of levers 92 and 93 lelements 36 were open. When the vcarriage D G- and move the latches |03 and- |04 toward one another. The pin |31 is'so situatedy and the screw |08 is so adjusted that the latches |03 and |04 are in position to engage latch lug |06 when the same is moved downwardly.

For controlling the current to the heating elements 36 and the heater 05 a switch mechanism is employed which is best shown in Fig. 6. Attached to the upper portion of the body I2 of base is a clip angle ||3 which is secured thereto by means of screws H4. An insulating plate ||5 is attached to the clip angle ||3 by means of screws ||6. This insulating plate has secured to it three contacts ||1, ||8 and ||9. Contacts ||8 and ||9 are positioned, one above the other, and the contact |1 adjacent the same. The contact ||1 is of a length equal to the combined height of the two contacts ||8 and ||9.' Cooperating with these contacts is a contactor bar |2| which is disposed at theend of a spring arm 22. Arm |22 is secured by means of screws |23 to an insulating block |24 which is attached to the ange 63 of leg 42 of plate 4|. This contactor bar is adapted to connect contacts ||1 and 8 together when the carriage D is held 2 in latched position by means oflatch |03. The said contacter bar is adapted to connect contact ||1 with contact ||9 when the carriage D is held in latched position by means of latch |04'.

The various heating elements and the heater 30' of the invention are connected in a circuit shown in detail in Fig. '1. For energizing the circuit two leads |25 and |26 are employed which are connected to a suitable source of electric current either alternating or direct. All of the heating elements V36 are connected in-series and to the lead |25. The other lead |26 is connected to the contact ||1. The heating elements 36 are further connected by means of a conductor |21 to the heater 85. Heater 85 is connected by means of a conductor |28 to contact ||0. A conductor |29 connects contact ||9 with the conductor |21.

The operation of the invention is as follows: When the toaster is .cold the parts are in the various positions shown in Figs. 2 and 3. It will be noted that in such positions the carriage D is in its uppermost position and the latch |03 is in the position to engage the latch lug |06. While so disposed lever 92 is up against the stop |01 and screw |02 of lever 93 is in engagement with the thermally responsive member 12. Due to the fact that the bi-metal strip 13 is cold, lever 92 is held so that latch |04 is out of the path of movement of the latch lug |06. If the carriage D is now depressed by exerting down- Cil ward pressure on the nger piece 61 the carriage D descends in opposition to the spring 68' past both latches |03 and |04. Upon release of presy sure, lug |06 passes latch |04 but is engaged by latch |03 of lever 92. The parts then become arranged as shown in Fig. 4. While the carriage D was in its uppermost position connector bar |2| was free from the switch contacts and the circuit through both the heater 85 and heating is disposed, as shown in Fig. 4, connector bar |2| connects the two contacts ||1 and ||8-to gether. An examination of Fig. 1 will reveal that a circuit is now completed through the heater 05 and the heating elements 36 which are disposed in series in said circuit. This procures toasting of the bread within the ovens 3| and 32 and at the same time causes the strip of bimetal 13 to become arched and to deect. The

end 98 Aoi? the strip of bi-metal moves toward 75 the screw |0| on lever 92. As soon as ythe bimetal strikes thislever, latch |03 is disengaged from the latch lug |06 and the carriageD is released. This causes the bread racks 54 and to raise upwardly and to move the bread out of the ovens 3| and 32. At the same time connector bar |2| leaves the switch contacts and all circuits are again open. As the strip ofbimetal 13 leaves the screw |02, lever 93 swings in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig..4 and catch |04 is brought into position to be engaged.

by the latch lug |06. 4The position of the various parts, after the carriage D has been released, is shown in Fig. 5.

. If a second slice or slices of bread are inserted into the ovens and deposited upon the bread racks 54 and 55 and the ,carriage D again depressed while the thermally responsive member is in the position shown in Fig. 5, the latch lug |06 will engage the latch |04 and be held in its lowermost position. In such position the connector bar |2| connects the two contacts |1 and ||9 together. The circuit through these contacts connects the heating elements 36 to the source of current cutting out the heater 85. As soon as this cir'- cuit is closed, the bread in the toasting ovens commences to toast. However, the thermally responsive member 12, not being heated through leases the lever 92 permitting said lever to reach its normal position. After the thermally respcnsive member has cooled'sufciently it shifts lever 93 in a manner to free the latch |04 from the latch lug |06. Due to the play between the screws |0| and |02, the latch |03 reacheslatching position before the latch |04 is disengaged. When the latch- |04 becomes disengaged, the carriagek D is raised by spring until the said latch lug engages latch-|03. At`this position the connector bar |2| connects contacts ||1 and ||8 and the original circuit is again completed in which the heater is energized. The strip of bi-metal 13 now dei'lects toward the left, as shown in Fig. 4, until it engages the screw 0| and moves latch |03 out of latching position. When this occurs, the carriage D isagain released and ascends to its uppermost position in which the bread is remotely disposed from the heating elements and maybe removed from the toaster. It will readily be comprehended that once the bi-metal has been heated that the same cannot be used for' timing in the same cycle until the bi-metal has cooled. With the present invention the period inv which the bi-metal cools is utilized in procuring the timing for the subsequent operation of the toaster. Since lthe time required to bring the strip `of bi-metal to its maximum deflected position is considerably shorter when the bi-metal is partly heated than when cooled, it can readily be comprehended that any length of time can be procured for the second operation of the toaster by adjusting the vtime of cooling of the bi-metal strip by means useable for timing the second toasting operation.

No time is lost in toasting since the toasting both occurs during the heating and cooling of the I thermally responsive member. With m'y invention toasting is terminated during the heating cycle -whereby more accurate timing can be procured. The invention is extremely simple and fool-proof. The carriage in its two positions operates the switch which energizes the heating elements and heater, thereby requiring no special parts.

Changes in the speciiic form of my invention, as herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I-claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

l. In a food cooking device, heating means, food shifting means for moving the food away from said heating means, said food shifting means being adapted to occupy several positions when the food is in proximity to the heating means, a thermally responsive member, a heater for heating said thermally responsive member. to cause the same to deect, means operated by said thermally responsive member during heating thereof and maintaining said food shifting means at one of said positions, means operated by said thermally responsive member during cooling thereof and maintaining said food shifting means at another of its positions and means controlled by said food shifting means when reaching one of said positions for energizing said heater.

2. In a food cooking device, heating means, food shifting means for moving the food away from said heating means, said food shifting means being adapted to occupy several positions when the food is in proximity to the heating means; a thermally responsive member, a heater for heating said thermally responsive member to cause the same to deflect, a latch operated by said thermally responsive member during heating thereof for maintaining said food shifting means in [one of its positions, a latch operated by said thermally responsive member for maintaining said food shifting means during cooling of said thermally responsive member at another of said positions and means .operated by said food shifting means when released by said second named latch for energizing said heater.

3. In a food cooker, heating means, food shifting means movable in an up and down direction for moving the food toward or from the heating means, said food shifting means being adapted to occupy a number of positions one above the other While the food is inA proximity to the heating means, a timing device, means controlled by said timing device when the food shifting means is at one position for energizing said heating means for a predetermined length of time and means controlled byr said timing device when the food shifting means is at another of its positions more elevated for energizing said heating means for a different length of time.

s4. In -a food cooker, heating means, food shifting means movable in an up and down direction for moving thefood toward or from the heating means, said food shifting means being adapted to occupy a number of positions one above the other while the food is .in proximity to the heating; means, a thermally responsive member, a vheater for heating said` thermally responsive member, a latch operated by said thermally Aresponsive member upon heating thereof for maintaining said food shifting means at its uppermost position, a second latch controlled by said thermally responsive member during cooling thereof for maintaining said food shifting means at its lowermost position, and means controlled by the positions of said food shifting means for energizing said heating means and heater.

5. In a food cooker, heating means, food shifting means movable in an up and down direction for moving the food toward or from the heating means, said food shifting means being adapted to occupy a number of positions one above the other while the food is in proximity to the heating means, a thermally responsive member, a heater for heating -said thermally l' responsive member, a latch operated by said thermally responsive member upon heating thereof for maintaining said food shifting means at its uppermost position, a second latch controlled by said thermally responsive member during cooling thereof for maintaining said food shifting means at its lowermost position, means for causing said first latch to reassume latching position upon actuation of said second latch by said thermally responsive member, said second latch releasing control of said food shifting means to said first latch upon the thermally responsive member cooling to a predetermined temperature and means operated by said food shifting means when it reaches its uppermost position for energizing said heater.

' 6. In a i'ood cooker, heating means, food shifting means movable-in an up and down direction for moving the food toward or from the heating means, said food shifting means being ada-pted to occupy two positions, one above the other when the food is in-proximity to the heating means, a thermally responsive member, a heater for heatlng said thermally responsive member, two latches, said thermally responsive member being positioned to move one of said latches into latching positon and to disengage the other latch upon being heated and to move the second latch into latching position and disengage the first latch upon being cooled, means movable with said shifting means for engagement with said latches, said latches and last named means maintaining the food shifting means in its respective positions and means operated by said food shifting means for energizing said heater when the food shifting means reaches its uppermostposition.

7. .In a food cooking device, heating means, food shifting means for moving the food away from said heating means, -a thermally responsive member for controlling the movement of said food shifting means. a heater for heating said thermally responsive member, said food shifting means being adapted to occupy a number o1' different positions and movable from one of said positions to another under the control of said thermally responsive member, while the food is in proximity to the heating means, means operable at one of said positions for energizing said heating means and means operable upon movement of the food shifting means from one of said positions to another of said positions for enl ergizing-said heater.

8. In a food cooker, heating means, food shi-fting means for moving the -food away from the heating means, a time controlled device for consaid food shifting means being adaptedto occupy two positions and movable vfrom one position to the other under control of the thermally responsive member while the food is in proximity to the heating means and switch means operated by said food shifting means for energizing said heater when the food shifting means is moved from one of its -positions to the other.

9. In a food cooker operable for a cooking period, heating means, .a thermally responsive member, a heater therefor, heat controlling means controlled by the thermally responsive member for controlling the operation of said heating means, said heat controlling means being rendered operative by said thermally responsive member'when the temperature of said thermally responsive member at the initiation of the cooking period is below a certain degree of temperature to energize said heater during the entirety of said cooking period and rendered operative by said thermally responsive member when the temperature of said thermally responsive member at the initiation of the cooking period is above a certain degree oi temperature to energize said heater for a portion only of the cooking period.

10. In a food cooker operable for a cooking period, heating means, a thermally responsive member, a heater therefor, variable means for energizing said heater during the entire cooking period or a portion only o f the cooking period, and selective means controlled by the thermally responsive member at the initiation of the cooking cycle for controlling the operation of said variable means, said selective means controlling the operation oi said heating means.

responsive member at the initiation of the cooking period is below a certain degree oi temperature and the other of said movable members be.

ling moved into an operative position when the temperature of the thermally responsive member at the initiation ofthe cooking period is above a certain degree oi temperature, means controlled by said rst named movable member for ener- 'gizing said heater for the entire cookingperiod and controlled by both said movable members for energizing said heater for a portion only of the cooking period, said last named means serving to control the operation o! said heating means.

ROBERT sARDEsoN. 

